Friends, family and local musicians showed up Saturday night to support the Songwriter Showcase and Benefit for Alex Montoya at Messy Jessy’s Bar and Grill, in Aberdeen.
Jarod Peterson, Ty Wulf, Lisa Ramsauer, Colin Gage, Susanna Green, Black Shepherd, Joseph Kuntz, Rullen Neifert, Hard Money Saints, and A Lien Nation were the artists and bands who sung their hearts out for Montoya, their friend who was killed late April in Olympia.
Christopher Haley, guitarist and singer for A Lien Nation and owner of Redact Records, spoke about Montoya before each song he and his band played. Haley combined with Jessy and Dustin Knutson, owners of Messy Jessy’s Bar and Grill — 212 S. I Street — to put on the event, which raised about $1,500 through the raffle and door tickets.
“This one’s for Al!” Haley said in between songs. “There’s no past tense in love.”
Along with dancing and singing along to the musicians and their original tracks, the nearly full bar and restaurant seemed to find comfort in each other as they celebrated Alex’s memory. Alex’s mom and dad, Shauna Montoya and Tracy Fontaine, each took the stage at different times.
Fontaine raised a glass to his son. And then later, Shauna hugged Colin Gage after one of his songs in one of the many heartfelt moments throughout the night.
Near the stage, a letter was posted on a table. Its message was to ask people to write letters and statements to the “Office of the Prosecuting Attorney Thurston County” regarding the trial for the men in connection to Alex’s death. Address the letters to:
Sherry Landon Victim Advocate
2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW
Olympia, WA 98502
Or email sherry.landon@thurston.wa.us
And to donate to the GoFundMe that was set up by Alex’s family to help Alex’s son Jude and sister Emily, search “GoFund Me In Loving Memory of Alex Montoya” and you’ll find him playing guitar and singing. Currently, 89 donors have raised $10,905 in Alex’s memory.
Music calendar
From people in the know and social media, here are a few of the acts taking place this weekend across Grays Harbor County:
Saturday, Aug. 26
9 a.m. — Nirvana Walk, Talk and Ride Tour (with Ty Wulf) — Nirvana Coffee Company — 205 S. I St., in Aberdeen
10 a.m. to noon — Dogger — Saturday Morning Market (Fleet Park) — Near the intersection of Fleet Street South and Marcy Avenue West, in Montesano
5 p.m. to 8 p.m. — The Akoostiks — Loge Camps Westport — 1416 S. Montesano St., in Westport
8 p.m. to midnight — Morning After — Ashley’s Pub Haus — 710 J St., in Hoquiam
Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.
Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World A collage of photos showing Alex Montoya captures the love his friends and family had for him. Four months after his death, his friends and family gathered Saturday night at Messy Jessy’s Bar and Grill, in Aberdeen, to bond over their shared love of Montoya.
Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Alex Montoya’s mom, Shauna Montoya, hugs Colin Gage, right, between songs in his set on Saturday night at the Songwriter Showcase Benefit for Alex Montoya. Gage was one of many musicians who played to the near-full bar and restaurant crowd. The benefit raised about $1,500.
Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Jarod Peterson, one of many musicians to play at the Songwriter Showcase and Benefit for Alex Montoya, sings his heart out Saturday night for the memory of his friend Alex Montoya at Messy Jessy’s Bar and Grill, in Aberdeen. Peterson played guitar, harmonica and drums with his feet in a crowd-pleasing and memorable performance.
